-LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT- FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS November 21, 2020 City Of Bemidji Office of the Mayor 317 4th Street NW Bemidji, MN 56601 Rita.

Published November 21, 2020 at 3:01 AM

-LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT-
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST
RELEASE OF FUNDS
November 21, 2020
City Of Bemidji
Office of the Mayor
317 4th Street NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
Rita.albrecht@ci.bemidji.mn.us
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Bemidji, Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Bemidji and Headwaters Housing Development Corporation.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE
OF FUNDS
On or about December 8, 2020 the City of Bemidji will authorize the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Bemidji to” submit a request to HUD for the release of Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment to undertake a project known as East Conifer for the purpose of constructing and operating 24 units of affordable housing for low income and/or homeless individuals at approximately 1800 Conifer Avenue, Bemidji, MN. The project will receive 12 units of project based rental assistance vouchers for families from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Bemidji.
FINDING OF NO
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The City of Bemidji has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at City Hall, 317 4th Street, NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 and may be examined or copied weekdays 9:00A.M to 4:30 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Bemidji, Mayor Rita Albrecht, 317 4th Street, NW, Bemidji, MN 56601. All comments received by December 7, 2020, will be considered by the City of Bemidji prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
ENVIRONMENTAL
CERTIFICATION
The City of Bemidji certifies to HUD that Rita Albrecht in her capacity as Mayor consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Bemidji to use Program funds. The activities proposed have been determined to have no significant adverse impact on the environment under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act Requirements An Environmental Review Record (ERR) respecting this project has been made by the City of Bemidji that documents the environmental review of the project. This ERR is on file at the address above and is available for public examination and copying, upon request, weekdays between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:30 pm. In accordance with 24 CFR Part 58.15. Compliance with the following laws and authorities has been addressed: State Historic Preservation, wetland protection, sole source aquifers, endangered species, wild and scenic rivers, coastal zone management, air quality, noise abatement, farmland protection, airport runway clear zone requirements and environmental justice.
No historic properties will be affected, the subject properties are not located in a floodplain and no building footprints will be expanded within any wetlands. The target area is located entirely within City limits, so the Farmland Protection and Policy Act of 1981 is not applicable. HUD Noise Guidelines will be followed. The project will not produce concentrations of air pollutants. Solid waste facilities are adequate to handle the demand generated by the proposed activities. There are no landfills or toxic sites in the vicinity. Aquifer recharge areas will not be affected by the minor rehabilitation activity. No endangered species will be adversely affected by the activities. No coastal zones or wild and scenic rivers will be affected. There will be no disproportionately negative impact of the activities on low income or minority groups.
OBJECTIONS
HUD will accept objections to the Responsible Entity's (RE) Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification for a period of fifteen days following the submission date specified above or the actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the RE; (b) the RE has omitted a step or failed to make a determination or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58 or by CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1500-1508, as applicable; (c) the RE has omitted one or more steps in the preparation, completion or publication of the Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Study per 24 CFR Subparts E, F or G of Part 58, as applicable; (d) the grant recipient or other participant in the development process has committed funds for or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before release of funds and approval of the environmental certification; (e) another Federal, State or local agency has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD/ Minneapolis Field Office at 920 2nd Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55402-3318. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
Rita Albrecht, Mayor
City of Bemidji
1 da; 11/21